Chapter Text
The sky has not fully awaken, and a heavy fog hovers over the Quidditch pitch. Among the few spectators, most were still yawning from the early hour, some even dozing off in their seats.
Armin wrapped his scarf tighter around his neck and settled at the edge of the Hufflepuff stands. He wasn’t much of a fan of such sports, frankly, he thinks it was reckless and illogical in its scoring system. But here he was, for one reason and one reason only: Levi was playing today.
Levi, the seeker of Hufflepuff, moved so swiftly on his broom he could be mistaken for a raven if not for the yellow robes. He wasn’t very sociable and preferred not to attend post-match celebrations even though he was always the one who secured the victory. And that is also why despite his indifference toward team spirit didn’t seem to earn him any less respect from the members. However, his nonchalance about being in sync with his team members doesn’t seem to bother because after all, a seeker mostly worked alone during the match. His flying, his precision, it was all cold and exact, just like him.
Armin tucked his hands into his cloak pockets, the morning air was still crisp. He glanced up at the sky, trying to spot that familiar black dot.
“He’s not wearing his cloak today.” Armin murmured quietly, more a reminder than a comment. And then he flushed, ashamed. He should at least be paying attention to his own house’s team—Ravenclaw was playing too—but here he was, worrying about someone from their rival house.
The breeze must be colder up there, the black spot remained motionless.
Then suddenly, the golden snitch darted through the air out of nowhere, and Levi shot after it with such speed that Armin swore he can only see a blurred residual shadow. The crowd erupted, even some Griffindors were shouting Levi’s name. Cheering was the one thing he wouldn’t allow himself to do. Levi’s silhouette cut through the fog like a blade, sharp against the dawn. Armin held his breath, eyes fixed on the figure plummeting fast—too fast that Armin nearly screamed. But just before Levi hit the ground he pulled up hard, one hand reached up before he raised it, the glint of gold nestled in his palm.
Hufflepuff had won.
Armin stood and clapped discreetly. He hadn’t plan to go over. He doubted Levi even knew he was there. Levi is always so distant, quiet, like a demiguise, you know he’s there and yet untouchable.
Just as he climbed down and was turning back toward the castle, a steady voice spoke behind him:
“You’re early today.”
Armin looked over his shoulder immediately to see Levi already leaning against the end of the hallway, broom in hand. The soft morning light at his back rendered his expression unreadable, but his gray eyes gleamed directly at Armin.
“I, uh…” Armin stammered, “it’s just… the library is not open yet so I figured I’d check out the match… since Ravenclaw is playing too.” It’s only half true though.
Levi gave a curt hum, his lips twitched slightly as if holding back a smirk. Armin’s heart is bumping rapidly as the silence between them felt loud. Several seconds later, Levi looked away and said:
“Let’s head back.”
Armin blinked: “Aren’t you supposed to have some kind of celebration ritual with your members to do?”
“Nah, that’s too loud.” Levi answered flatly before looking back at him, “You coming or what?”
He didn’t wait Armin to reply and instead, he stepped forward to gather the hood of Armin’s cloak around him, fingers brushing blonde strands.
“Next time, wear it properly. It’s cold out.” His tone sounded a mix of reprimand and concern.
Armin startled as his whole face tined with a shade of pink. He felt the fabric of the hood and murmured: “…You were great, today.”
Levi didn’t respond immediately. His head stayed turned forward, then he let out a small tch—barely a sound—but his next words were clear:
“Try not to fall for me too hard. Wouldn’t want you fainting during Charms.”
He turned toward the castle with a swish of his cloak, the sound sharp against the morning wind. Looking down the bridge, a soft breeze rustled the Whomping Willow before they both pushed open the creaky gate and entered the main hall.
Armin stared at the back of Levi, heart pounding like the snitch from earlier, only this time, it wasn’t caught in Levi’s hand.
The route to the Ravenclaw tower was quite long since its common room is pretty much the highest place in the castle. Armin always had to climb all the way to it and if he got lost somewhere he has to wait on the ever-changing stairs to come back to him. So, what does he mean by walking me back? Armin couldn’t help but wondering right after entering the gate, his heart already fluttering.
He opened his mouth to tell Levi that he didn’t have to climb along glancing sideways, he saw Levi walking beside him like a quiet shadow, effortless in his steady stride. The unspoken answer hung between them: Levi had chosen the longer road on purpose.
Footsteps of all other people faded gradually as they ascended, the rest of the castle slowly waking. Armin’s breath grew uneven, his fingers gripping the stone railing.
“What?” Levi’s voice cut through the silence. “Wish I could let you ride my broom and take you up?” Levi teased, earning a pout from Armin and he bantered back:
“Duh, who made the rules? Or I might as well just wish I’m a ghost so I can just float up there.”
Levi rolled his eyes: “You wish. At least sneaking the broom without being caught is possible, do you even know how to become a ghost?”
“You know what, just forget it. I’m not walking you back for a lecture.” Feeling Armin might really know the answer to that question, he let it out before Armin can make a reply.
Armin blinked, truth was, he didn’t know how can a human turn into a ghost after death, but the idea that Levi assumed he did made him smile a bit. Just as they bantered along the way, a few ghosts wandered around them and its movement gave Armin a shiver down his back. He tugged his hood up before realizing wearing it indoors probably looked silly. He glimpsed at Levi for no reason and said:
“You really didn’t have to come all the way up so high you know,” trying to lighten up his tone a bit as he added, “I know your dorm is all the way underground, that’s a long way back.”
Levi didn’t stop or look back and replied with a grunt, “No shit, that’s why I keep running into your cocky little green friend too damn often… lucky for you, you’re less annoying.” Armin immediately knows that he is referring to Eren who’s in Slytherin. “Besides,” Levi added, “ you walk too slow, who’s there to pick you up if you fall?”
Armin coughed out a laugh: “…I’m not a broom, you know.”
“No,” Levi said and finally stopped at the last spiral stair. “You are even lighter.” He turned around to face Armin, with a straight face he held out to squeeze slightly on Armin’s thin wrist as if weighing it.
Armin froze, cheeks coloring, thought he doubted that his weight is less that a broom. He can’t really talk or think with Levi’s intense gaze on him. He too stopped in front of Levi, fidgeting with his own sleeves as he tries to stall their goodbye. There was no one else on this floor, given the hour and how far it was from the usual path, the morning light shed through those heavy fog in the early morning and pierced the high windows, casting his silhouette over Levi. He had to tilt his head up to meet his eyes as Levi was standing one step above Armin, making his golden eyelashes being caught on the sunlight, casting its shadows on his cheekbones.
“Thanks for walking me back,” Armin mumbled, “I’ll clean the hood and return it to you.” He managed the words before step up forward, closing their distance before he realized that was too close considering the width of the stairs and had to look down, only to find that their boots nearly touched on the narrow step. His shadow now merged to Levi’s.
Levi flicked the edge of Armin’s hood with a snort. “Tch. Your hood’s part of your cloak, genius. That sorting hat must’ve been drunk.”
Armin’s face burned. “Merlin, did I really say that?” He made a sound of whimper and covered his cheeks with his hands for a while before looking Levi in the eye once again.
“Must’ve been the wrackspurts, it’s easy for them to swarm my head and mess with it this early.”
“Alright, sharp brat, got it all figured out, huh?”
Armin opened his mouth, then closed it again. The corridor was so quiet now—only wind slipping through the tall windows, sunlight casting pale patterns on the stone, and a lingering chill in the air. Before he could decide what to say, the next thing he knew, Levi’s face was drawing closer—slow, deliberate, unwavering.
Their lips met, fleeting and silent.
He didn’t know who moved first. Maybe it was him—perhaps he’d found the courage. Or maybe it was Levi, who always took the lead without hesitation. The kiss felt like something indefinable yet inevitable, arriving without warning, like a sudden breeze.
Both of them leaned in again, instinctively. The second kiss was softer—eyes closed this time. Lips brushed lips, nothing more—like a feather landing on the surface of the Great Lake. It made no sound.
When they parted, Armin’s lashes fluttered open. Levi was still there, just inches away, his gaze shadowed and unreadable.
“…Is that my reward for getting up early?” Armin whispered.
Levi caged him gently against the wall, lips grazing his ear: “No, you just stole it, little nargle.”
Armin’s laugh dissolved into a gasp as Levi kissed him again, deeper this time, more deliberate. He raised his own hand to grab Levi’s on the wall and intwined their fingers together, the sunlight warmed their tangled fingers where Armin had seized Levi’s sleeve, refusing to let go. When they parted, Armin’s breath caught. Then he slowly pulled back his hood and smiled, his blue eyes so bright they seemed to catch and reflect the sunlight like crystal.
“Later, kid, unless you want that nosy painting reporting me slid into your house for the nth time, I might lose my prefect badge.” He said as he held Armin’s hand to his lips and brushed a kess on the knuckle.
“Fine. Dinner in the Great Hall then?” Armin’s voice was embarrassingly hopeful.
He turned to say the password to the portrait and then glanced back at Levi, waiting for the door to open slowly and reluctantly, he wanted to hold his gaze on him for just a little longer, as if time might bend around it.
Levi nodded, giving him a final push toward the door, but his touch lingered, fingers slipping away one by one.
“Don’t be late.” Though he knows Armin never would.
As the door creaked open, Armin caught one last glance from Levi’s eyes, that was a silent promise in the dawn-lit hallway.